Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has demanded that team management must play left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, following his icy cold performance against Sri Lanka on Friday.
The 26-year-old Arshdeep, who played only his second game of the tournament, bowled a magnificent Super Over after the game was tied at 40 overs. Despite conceding only two runs, the Punjab seamer managed to take two wickets before India smashed the target with a single delivery.
Arshdeep also made history earlier in the tournament by becoming the first Indian to reach 100 T20I wickets in just 64 games and the fastest pacer to do so. But with India adopting a spin-heavy strategy and using Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah as their front-line pacers, Arshdeep has struggled to get a regular spot in the starting lineup.
In addition to highlighting Arshdeep's participation, Ashwin stated that India must address the tail-end batters' batting stocks in time for the upcoming T20 World Cup in five months.
“I’ll say this even with my glasses on! Even if you wake me up from deep sleep, my answer won’t change: Arshdeep must play. How many runs will the number 8 batsman make? Not too many, and you don’t need that many. And for the World Cup in six months, work on Arshdeep’s batting, work on Varun Chakravarthy’s batting, and Bumrah can already hit a bit and has a decent bat swing. The batting coach needs to give more time to these guys,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, ‘Ash ki Baat.’
Ashwin stated that it was obvious to select Arshdeep to stay in the team in Hardik's absence, as India was concerned about the all-rounder's availability for the crucial final after he suffered a thigh injury during the previous game.
“The way Arshdeep bowled, he proved again why we keep saying on this channel that Arshdeep is needed. Once more, he proved it. So, in many ways, if Hardik doesn’t play, India will have to play Arshdeep. So, for India, Hardik is necessary, but this is one of those situations where it could also be good, because Arshdeep will get played and can again show why he’s that important bowler for India,” he said.
This is the first time in 41 years that India and Pakistan will clash in the final of the Asia Cup tournament.
